Winter Trout Fly Fishing

by Cameron Larsen

It is winter time now. One step on the frozen porch steps first thing in the morning removes any doubt of that fact. Winter time brings on many thoughts, holidays, dark afternoons, football on TV and for me some of the best trout fly fishing there is. That's right, trout fishing. Winter steel head fly fishing has been around a long time, and gets more popular every season. But the truth of the matter is trout fly fishing can be excellent, the crowds are down to non-existent, the scenery and wildlife are plentiful, and it makes those long days of early spring with non-stop rain and overflowing rivers more tolerable.

When to Go

Winter fly fishing demands a little timing and planning on your part. One nice thing is, the weekends aren't crowded, so you really don't need to ask the boss for time off, to really get some peace and solitude. But other planning does need to be done. The first thing is checking your local regulations. Many, many places now offer year around trout fly fishing. A good portion of this is probably catch and release, but that only helps in further reducing the crowds. Some areas allow only lakes to be fished year round, some only allow rivers, but most places will allow something to be fished year round.

After you have your areas selected, you must really get an idea on the weather. Mild winter days, specifically afternoons, can provide some shirtsleeve fishing opportunities. Coastal regions that rarely get snow or ice, need to be checked more for river levels. Three or four days of steady rain can really put a river in at unfishable levels. It is also rarely enjoyable to fish in well below freezing temperatures. Even if you can dress warmly enough, the ice on the guides make casting nearly impossible, and the slickness of entering the river is extremely dangerous. Extreme care should be taken when wading in general, one slight misstep, can send you into the river, dangerous all year, this is multiplied by the cold air temperatures in the winter. Also light is much less, making it difficult to see the river bottom while wading. So step very cautiously. And always fish with a partner.

OK, enough of the warnings, when to go is what we are after. I prefer a nice period of dry weather, with mild afternoons. I rarely fish in the early morning, in the winter, but if you can get a fogged over morning with nicely rising afternoon temperatures that reach in to the 40's, you have a day to hit the water!

It is winter time now. One step on the frozen porch steps first thing in the morning removes any doubt of that fact. Winter time brings on many thoughts, holidays, dark afternoons, football on TV and for me some of the best trout fly fishing there is. That's right, trout fishing. Winter steelhead fly fishing has been around a long time, and gets more popular every season. But the truth of the matter is trout fly fishing can be excellent, the crowds are down to non-existent, the scenery and wildlife are plentiful, and it makes those long days of early spring with non-stop rain and overflowing rivers more tolerable.

When to Go

Winter fly fishing demands a little timing and planning on your part. One nice thing is, the weekends aren't crowded, so you really don't need to ask the boss for time off, to really get some peace and solitude. But other planning does need to be done. The first thing is checking your local regulations. Many, many places now offer year around trout fly fishing. A good portion of this is probably catch and release, but that only helps in further reducing the crowds. Some areas allow only lakes to be fished year round, some only allow rivers, but most places will allow something to be fished year round.

After you have your areas selected, you must really get an idea on the weather. Mild winter days, specifically afternoons, can provide some shirtsleeve fishing opportunities. Coastal regions that rarely get snow or ice, need to be checked more for river levels. Three or four days of steady rain can really put a river in at unfishable levels. It is also rarely enjoyable to fish in well below freezing temperatures. Even if you can dress warmly enough, the ice on the guides make casting nearly impossible, and the slickness of entering the river is extremely dangerous. Extreme care should be taken when wading in general, one slight misstep, can send you into the river, dangerous all year, this is multiplied by the cold air temperatures in the winter. Also light is much less, making it difficult to see the river bottom while wading. So step very cautiously. And always fish with a partner.

OK, enough of the warnings, when to go is what we are after. I prefer a nice period of dry weather, with mild afternoons. I rarely fish in the early morning, in the winter, but if you can get a fogged over morning with nicely rising afternoon temperatures that reach in to the 40's, you have a day to hit the water!

What to Wear

A few years ago I switched to breathable waders and I actually have never been more comfortable while winter fishing. I layer underneath with two or three layers of thermal wear, including one layer of fleece pants. I can move much better than in neoprene's, and there is no clamminess to bring on chills. Socks are also important silk liners with thick winter socks work for me. I have a roomier pair of wading boots specifically for winter to allow for the extra bulk. I also don't cinch my boots down too tight, as that seems to cut off circulation, nothing will ruin a fishing trip quicker than cold feet.

Many angler's wear fingerless fleece gloves. I like them only if there is a biting wind, otherwise I can't seem to keep them dry long enough to make them worth the effort. I can cast adequately with either hand, and will sometimes tuck my free hand inside my waders by my chest.

To me a hat is virtually as important as waders, and I layer shirts, remembering my vest will also provide some warmth. Don't forget the inside, a nice hot thermos of coffee, has brought many a sigh of satisfaction.

Fishing

Winter trout fly fishing requires some adjustments. Plan on sub-surface fishing primarily. The warm afternoons like I mentioned above will produce Blue Wing Olive hatches in many locations, and midges hatch year round as well. Some dry fly action can occur, especially on smaller streams where options are less for trout. But by and large plan on fishing nymphs. And plan on fishing them deep. Depending on the size of water, a split or two is mandatory, and perhaps a sinking tip line. I usually use two flies, one as a dropper. Good patterns include, imitations of food sources that are available year round like San Juan Worms, Chironomid Pupas, Disco Midge, and Wd-40's. General nymph patterns like Hare's Ear and Prince Nymphs, will work to imitate the occasional nymph that might come in the trout's path.. Streamers also make excellent winter flies, including Woolly Buggers, Muddler's and Mickey Finn's. Don't forget that like trout, small fish and nymphs metabolism is slow as well, and they are apt to stick to the bottom, and out of the main current.

Winter fishing usually means clear water. I use lighter tippet than normal, because fish seem more easily spooked. Trout's metabolism makes them want to seek out pools near the bank that are warmed by the sun, so they are more vulnerable. I usually forgo strike indicators as well. Also remember that due to the slower metabolism, the fish will be sluggish. They often will bite gingerly, hook-ups will be primarily in the tongue. As trout may often go after several small insects in one mouthful. So rigorous setting of the hook is not required.

They are not likely to chase food down, as this will burn more calories then they will take in. Especially when fishing smaller patterns. While small pattern are very effective, in fact the first choice of many winter angler's, they need to be fished deep, and in front of the fish. Dead drifting nymphs is my first choice. If no luck I will try swinging streamers, second. I mend my line as soon as it hits the water, to ensure a drag free drift, and wait for the gentle take. I let the fish do the setting.

Once landed the winter fish might need more that it's usual care before allowing it to swim free. Landing fish should be quicker do to their lower energy, and then one must make sure the fish is 100% revived before it's release.

Summary

There you have it, like all forms of fly fishing winter fly fishing takes a little practice, and a lot of patience. But the surreal beauty of winter combined the solitude it brings, makes this an especially rewarding time of year, to flog the water.

---

About The Author

Author: Cameron Larsen
Email: info@bigyflyco.com
Web Site: http://www.bigyflyco.com/

Lure Fishing And Coarse Fishing Accessories

By : Stev

Normally the activity of catching fish is carried out in the wild. The most common techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping. The term ‘fishing’ can also be used for catching other aquatic animals like cephalopods, shellfish, echinoderms and crustaceans. Though the concept of fishing normally associates with the method of providing food, modern fishing is also a recreational sport. In present times it has become an art or a recreational activity. Boosting this art are many fishing accessories available in market.

Apart from the usual pieces (Rods, Reels, Line and Lures) of fishing tackle, there are some other accessories as well that can make your fishing experience enjoyable and memorable. These accessories are head lamps, sunglasses, scales, gloves, extra long needle nose pliers. Here we will basically discuss about the lure fishing and coarse fishing accessories. Before that let’s have a look on what is lure fishing and coarse fishing is all about.

In recreational fishing, a lure is an object attached at the end of the fishing line. It is basically designed resembling like a fish prey. The purpose behind, is to catch the attention of fish using movements, vibrations and color, making them bite the hook. Usually these lures are used with a fishing rod and a fishing reel outfit. The lures are equipped with one or several hooks, used to catch fishes when they attack the lure. Fishing lures has been in use since the prehistoric age. In those days they were made of bone and bronze. Gradually there came advancement in their shape and forms. Modern fishing lure was commercially made in United States during the early 1990’s. Nowadays the fishing lure is either tied with a knot or connected to a tiny device called a ‘snap’

There are many types of fishing lures, all manufactured in variety of ways with the same purpose of luring fish. Usually the lures are made looking like an injured, dying or fast moving fish. These include a jig, surface lures, plugs, spoon lures, spinnerbait, swimbait, artificial flies etc. a wide range of other fishing lures include fishing tackle, rods, line, fishing lures, spinners, reels and clothing.

Another type of fishing accessories readily available in market is coarse fishing accessory. The term coarse fishing is used in United Kingdom and Ireland for angling coarse fish. Actually the coarse fishes are the types of fresh water fish. The sport and techniques basically applied for catching these fish are particularly popular in United Kingdom and mainland Europe.

Again there are quite a number of coarse fishing accessories available in market. These include fishing tackle, rods, reels, rigs, weights, swivels and baits.

And today with the advancement of internet these products are just a click away. All you need to do is get hold of a good online store and buy the products that suit your purpose the best.
 

Three Main Trout Senses

by Brett Fogle

An angler should therefore become familiar with the three main senses a trout uses. These are:

Smell

Trout have amazing powers of smell. For humans, trying to understand smell underwater is rather difficult since we can't do it. However, trout have no difficulty smelling underwater, so it is worth an anglers time to make sure that they aren't introducing foreign smells into a trout stream (which can warn a trout to a lurking danger such as a fisherman).

When fly fishing for trout, do your best to avoid any artificial smells that are completely foreign to a trout stream. Avoiding these smells, though, of often easier said than done, as the sources of these smells can come from many sources. Fly line cleaners, fly floatants, epoxies and glue can all contribute alien smells to a trout stream. Other things such as aftershave, deodorant and even the smell of your clothing can all tip off a trout that an angler is near.

Obviously, you can't get rid of all foreign smells you may introduce into a trout stream. However, there are a number of easy things a fisherman can do to reduce the likelihood of a trout getting wise due to smell. When using fly line cleaners and fly floatants, use the newer ones that are designed to "mask" the chemical smell. The cleaners and floatants are usually the same price as other "non-masking" chemicals, but can go a long way towards reducing the likelihood of a trout becoming alert to the fisherman due to smell.

Also, before hitting a challenging trout stream, it never hurts to leave the cologne and other fancy deodorants back in the hotel room. On a challenging trout stream, an angler needs every edge they can get, and avoiding strange smells to finicky trout is a good way to do this.

Remember, trout have very powerful senses of smell. It is only logical that they will use this sense to identify flies presented their way to determine whether or not is something that is good to eat. A funny smelling fly, due to either chemical floatants or inadvertently smelling like Old Spice, is a good way to send a trout away from your fly and onto more "naturally" smelling food.

Sight

Sight is of crucial important to trout, which is not surprising. After all, it's the sense that they use when determining whether or not to eat something that comes their way. Trout, in particular, have excellent close-range vision although they lack in long-range vision. This close range vision by the trout is why so many imitation flies may fail to grab the interest of a trout - the trout can easily determine if given time if the fly looks like something it is accustomed too.

A trout sees the world through what is known as the "trout's window". This window is a cone shaped view that extends up from the eye at an ever-increasing diameter. Thus, the deeper the trout is, the more the trout can see.

A trout will only eat something that passes within this cone of vision since this is where they can see it and inspect it. Due to their other excellent senses, trout may very well be aware of something on the water that is outside of this cone of vision. But a trout consider eating it if it sees the fly in their cone of vision.

This knowledge leads to one strategy all anglers should use when fishing to rising trout. When fly fishing to a rising trout, it is very important to drop the fly not where the rise was but upstream of where the rise was. By presenting a fly upstream from the rise, the fly will float down the river naturally, not just suddenly appearing in the trout's cone of vision, which is likely to seem suspicious to a cunning trout.

Trout also have the ability to determine color, including subtle shades of color. This is why the same fly in two different colors can produce remarkably different results when fishing, the trout may simply be eating one color insect and avoiding others.

Lastly, trout also have the ability to see the profile of a fly. Of all the characteristics of a fly, this is perhaps the most important. A fly that does not have the same profile as seen from underwater compared to what they are accustomed to eating, is not likely to be very successful. For this reason, it is always important to make sure that your flies float properly, especially when dry fly fishing.

Moreover, even if your dry fly is a spitting imitation of the real thing, it is not likely to draw strikes if your fly floats awkwardly (or partially sinks).

This is a good reason to avoid the real cheap flies you may see - the colors of these cheap flies may look right, but the profile is likely to be wrong when on the water.

Sound

Trout have an acute sense of hearing that is well worth understanding. Trout have two sound receptors. The first one runs along the length of the fish's body. This receptor picks up frequency vibrations - such as the banging of rocks or oars against a boat. A second receptor, located inside the trout's ear, is used to detect the movement of aquatic insects which the trout eats. This receptor is extremely acute, allowing the trout to hear sound frequencies well outside the human hearing range. This hearing receptor of the trout is what allows the fish to find food even in very murky water.

Because trout have such acute senses of hearing, anglers need to keep several things in mind when fishing for trout.

First, trout can't hear human voices outside of the water. Thus, having a loud conversation about something along the bank of a river will not spook the trout.

Second, trout are acutely aware of vibrations and sound that occur in the river. Banging oars on the side of a boat is a wonderful way to alert the trout to your presence, thus spooking them. Likewise, great care should be taken when wading. Wading loudly, either caused or by the splashing of the water or the movement of rocks beneath the angler's feet, is easily heard by a trout - especially in slower moving water. In fast water, these vibrations tend to get drowned out by the current and rapids. But in slower water, such as runs or spring creeks, it is crucial that an angler take care when wading.

Third, trout are easily able to hear things that fall into a river, especially in slower water. A nearby trout can readily hear a grasshopper or other bug that falls into the river. Because of this, care must be taken in casting to prevent the fly line from making a splash in the water or from having the fly itself strike the river at full force. A gently dropping fly is far more likely to attract the attention of a trout than one that gets slammed into the river due to a bad cast or too heavy of a fly or fly line.

---

About The Author

Author: Brett Fogle
Email: sales@macarthurwatergardens.com
Web Site: http://www.fly-fishing-secrets.com
Details: Who else wants to pull in a bounty of big fish, every time? Here's how to AMAZE your friends (and maybe even make them a little bit jealous). Read "Fly Fishing Secrets" where we show you how. To get your hands on these amazing insider secrets, visit our Web site.

Fly Fishing Secrets for the Novice As Well As the Seasoned Angler

by Brett Fogle

Fly fishing is an exciting and fast growing sport in all over the world, and especially here in the U.S.A. The reasons for the increasing popularity of fly fishing are obvious. Fly fishing is enjoyable, relaxing, and rewarding in many different ways.

Perhaps the most rewarding element of fly fishing is the variety of beautiful natural surroundings in which anglers often find themselves; a secluded stream up in the mountains, a peaceful meandering river deep in the forest, or a tranquil blue lake somewhere out in big sky country. For some, it may be the opportunity to test ones" individual skill against nature - in an intricate game of cat and mouse (but in this case, man against fish.) These are just some of the compelling reasons why many thousands of people enjoy the challenges of fly fishing every year.

For beginning fly-fishermen, however, learning fly fishing can be difficult. We have compiled this e-book to give anglers, especially new anglers, some guidance on how to get the most out of the exciting sport of fly fishing. While there are many other resources available about fly fishing on the internet, few of them touch on the techniques, tactics and strategies commonly used in fly fishing. If these topics sound interesting, then you're in the right place because this e-book was written just for you.

We'll explore in detail the various fish most people fish for, we'll cover casting basics, how to read the water, how to take care of your gear, how to tie knots, dry flies, and fly lines. We'll also explore hatches, cover insect entomology and much, much more. In short, this e-book will teach you everything you always wanted to know about fly fishing (maybe even more than you've ever wanted to know)!

Fly Fishing: Trout and Their Habitat

Successful fly fishing involves lots of things, including having the proper fly fishing gear, using the right flies, being able to cast correctly, and many more little things that often determine whether a fly fishing adventure is successful or not. However, one thing that many anglers frequently neglect to learn about is the fish that they are fishing for.

A strong knowledge of the various types of trout is of critical importance. Knowing more about the various types of trout that you are fishing for, their habits, tendencies, and characteristics, can help tremendously in improving your catch.

In our next article we have covered the primary types of trout, their senses, and other important traits unique to each variety.

---

About The Author

Author: Brett Fogle

Email: sales@macarthurwatergardens.com

Web Site: http://www.fly-fishing-secrets.com

Details: Who else wants to pull in a bounty of big fish, every time? Here's how to AMAZE your friends (and maybe even make them a little bit jealous). Read "Fly Fishing Secrets" where we show you how. To get your hands on these amazing insider secrets, visit our Web site.

The Fishing Loft Newsletter - Bass On The Scene

In This Issue... Fresh Water ExPress! What's New on the Website Featured Website Visitor Promotional Offers Fish Recipe of the Month Quote of the Month Fresh Water ExPress! Have you ever been fishing for a specific species of fish, but ended up catching a different type of a prize fish by complete surprise? Well, it recently happened to me and my two boys. We went fishing for largemouth bass and ended up catching a nice striped bass. The kicker is that we were fishing in an area of water that hasn't been known to have stripers migrating through there for quite a few years now. Read the full story on the website about our Striper Fishing Adventure. What's New on FishingLoft.com Have you checked out the new 2011 fishing photo contest yet? Stop by today and get your pictures and stories entered for a chance to win. Contest prizes include Bass Pro Shops Gift Cards. Aside from the contest, there have been quite a few other notable anglers showing off their catch, such as... Largemouth On Jigs In November and this would be a North Carolina white crappie record... Monster White Crappie and this slab of a bronzback... Live Minnow Smallmouth Bass Feel free to have a look at those and add your comments there too. We have also been updating information about smallmouth bass fishing with various tips, techniques and tactics. You can stop by there at any time to see what we have available so far, and be sure to keep an eye out for more stuff as we continue to update and expand that section, just as well as other topics. Featured Website Visitor This months featured visitor is Nelson Ocampo, from Sacramento, California of the USA. You may recognize him as last years fishing photo contest winner. He also likes to be called the "Striper King" because of all the big striped bass he has managed to land. He has offered his striper fishing tips and techniques that have helped in his striped bass fishing success, such as his "Dream Come True... article. And also how he Created His Own Destiny by doing his striped bass fishing homework before knocking it to those big stripers. Would you like to know how you can become a featured visitor too? It's easy. Simply by participating on the website. Maybe other fishermen can learn something from your contributions. Regardless of how simple or little it may seem to you, it can make a huge difference to somebody else. Some things you can consider might be to submit some of your fishing pictures, share a story, write up a quick review, use our questions and answers section to offer tips, or send in a recipe... Promotional Offers Subscribe to some of your favorite magazines through Magazine Agent today. They are one of the largest internet based magazine subscription agencies on the world wide web with 1,000's of titles to choose from. Click on the image link below to find awesome deals with up to 90% discounted prices for the magazines that you enjoy reading... Fish Recipe of the Month Easy Asian Tuna Salad 12 ounces albacore tuna (canned or fresh) 2 limes; 1 juiced, the other cut into wedges 1 papaya; peeled, seeded and cut into 2 inch thick strips 1/4 cup chopped jalapeno 1/4 cup finely chopped peanuts 1/4 cup finely chopped basil 2 scallions, sliced thinly Combine all of the ingredients together in a medium sized bowl and toss gently. Salt and pepper to taste if desired. Serve immediately with a lime wedge per serving. This tuna salad tastes delicious on toasted bread, with crackers, or even in a crisp lettuce wrap. Enjoy! ********** This fish recipe is not featured on our website. It is intended for you to enjoy and as a thank you for being a subscriber to our newsletter. You can visit our freshwater fish recipes section for even more delicious tasting fish dish ideas. You can also share your fish recipes while you're there. We might even feature it in one of our future issues of The Fishing Loft newsletter... such as this Canned Shad Fish Recipe sent in by Jeremy from North Carolina. This shad recipe more or less lets you know how to easily can shad, much like sardines and salmon, in order to break down the boniness contained in the fish. And here is a Pan Seared Striped Bass with Citrus recipe that I quickly put together after a recent outing. Quote of the Month "Fishing is the sport of drowning worms." ~ Author Unknown Do you have a hobby? What's your passion? Ever wondered how to build your very own website? Click the image link and get started today... You are subscribed to The Fishing Loft Newsletter. The back issues are at the following URL... http://www.fishingloft.com/The_Fishing_Loft_Newsletter-backissues.html If you wish to remove yourself from this mailing, please click on the following URL... http://fishingloft.com/cgi-bin/mailout/mailmgr.cgi?us=LQ.21141709.24400837.0a55fe7ffd603586906e53ce7b608f33 (If the above URL is not a link, copy-and-paste the URL into your Web browser. That will confirm your removal.) To change your e-mail address, please click on the following URL... http://fishingloft.com/cgi-bin/mailout/mailmgr.cgi?ca=LQ.21141709.24400837.0a55fe7ffd603586906e53ce7b608f33 (If the above URL is not a link, copy-and-paste the URL into your Web browser. That will confirm your change.)

Black Bass Species

Eight Species of Black Bass

By Ronnie Garrison

Most bass fishermen are familiar with largemouth and smallmouth bass, and southern bass fishermen know about spotted bass, too. But there are other kinds of black bass out there even if not well known. Some of these species are restricted to a few streams but others are more widespread. Not all are recognized by the International Game Fish Association but biologists say they are distinct species. All are of the genus "Micropterus" and can interbreed, producing hybrids of the two species. Some, like the largemouth, have distinct subspecies.

Black bass are related to sunfish and are not true bass. True bass like stripers and white bass are in the genus Morone.

• Largemouth Bass - Micropterus salmoides - World record - 22 pounds 4   ounces - Original habitat eastern United States and northern Mexico and southern Canada, has been transplanted by man to all 50 of the United States, all of Mexico and Central America and many other countries. Jaw extends past the rear edge of the eye when closed, dorsal fins are separate. Divided into Florida and Northern strains. Most popular game fish.

• Smallmouth Bass - Micropterus dolomineu - World Record 11 pounds 15 ounces - Native to the eastern half of the United States and sotheastern Canada, has been widely transplanted to almost every US state and many countries. Jaw does not extend past the back of the eye, dorsal fins connected.

• Spotted Bass - Micropterus punctulatus - World record 10 pounds 4 ounces - Original habitat central and lower Mississippi basin to the Gulf of Mexico, from Texas to Florida panhandle and in Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky and other nearby states. It has been introduced into other waters near those, too, as well as California. Jaw does not ex tend past the eye, has lines of spots on lower body and a rough patch of "teeth" on its tongue. Divided into Kentucky, or northern, Alabama, or Coosa, and Wichita subspecies, the Wichita is found only in West Cache Creek in Oklahoma.

• Shoal Bass - Micropterus cataactae - World record 8 pounds, 12 ounces - Natural range is the Apalachicola, Chattahoochee and Flint River drainages of Alabama, Florida and Georgia, has been introduced to nearby waters expecially the Altamaha River in Georgia. Jaw does not extend past the eye, no teeth on the tongue.

• Redeye Bass - Micropterus coosae - No world record, Alabama state record is 3 pounds, 2 ounces. Shoal bass were included under this species and all listed records were for shoal bass so they transfered when they were separated. Very similar to shoal and spotted bass and occur in many of the same areas, usually do not get over four pounds.

• Suwannee Bass - Micropterus notius - No world record, seldom gets bigger than 12 inches long. Looks a lot like a spotted bass. Natural range is parts of the Suwannee and Ochlockonee Rivers in Florida and Georgia.

• Guadalupe Bass- Micropterus treculi - No world record, Texas Parks and Wildlife says they grow to 3.5 pounds. Naturally found only in Texas in parts of the San Antonio, Guadalupe, Colorado, and Brazos River drainages. Some have been introduced outside these rivers.

• Bartram's Bass - Micropterus bartrami - No world record - A bass very similar to the shoal bass but limited to the upper drainage of the Broad and Savannah Rivers in Georgia. There is still some question if it is a different species.

In Georgia I can catch seven of the eight subspecies. That would make quite a fishing trip, trying to take all seven.

Google Maps A Boon to Hunters, Anglers, and Other Outdoor Enthusiasts

by Jeremy Henricks

How many times have you wondered what's on the other side of that mountain or what's beyond the next river bend?

Sure, topo and road maps provide part of the picture, but to get a real sense of a particular area, I find it easier to use a combination of topo and aerial photography maps. For hunters, anglers, 4-wheel, camping, hiking, and other outdoor enthusiasts, Google Maps provides a great perspective on the outdoors with its new satellite imagery maps.

On April 5, 2005, Google announced the integration of its Keyhole digital mapping service with the popular Google Maps service (http://maps.google.com). In addition to a great overhead view, Google Maps allow you to click and drag maps with your mouse, zoom and pan, search for specific locations, get detailed driving direction, and more.

How It Benefits Outdoor Enthusiasts

Google Maps benefits outdoor enthusiasts for a number or reasons. The main benefit is that Google Maps allows you to see what you couldn't see before, at least without spending money on aerial maps, as they provide free access to their satellite imagery.

I live in Springfield, Oregon near the McKenzie River and Willamette River. Both rivers are great for fishing trout, steelhead, salmon, and more. With so much river frontage passing less than half a mile by my house, you'd think it easy to find a new spot to fish. The only problem is that the area is riddled with housing and farm tracts, with no easy way to access the river without traveling a couple of miles near the edge of town or several miles outside of town.

Plus, topo and road maps only tell part of the story. In regards to fishing, what about current, trees, weeds, rocks, gravel, and other structure? We all know that aerial maps answer a lot of these questions. With Google Maps' satellite imagery, I've already determined several locations that I'll be trying this year. With deer hunting season around the corner, I'll also be using these maps to scout out some new hunting locations.

I also recently visited Moab, Utah for the 2005 Easter Jeep Safari, and could have benefited greatly from the use of such detailed maps while traversing many of the offroad trails in the area. 4-wheel and offroad enthusiasts, bikers, hikers, and scenery buffs will notice the trails, trailsheads, and landmarks such as Lion's Back, Arches National Monument, and other spots of interest.

The Good and Bad

Google Maps provides both detailed street level and satellite imagery maps. While the street level maps cover the entire United States, Canada, and the UK, the high resolution satellite images seem to cover only more populated areas. For outdoor enthusiasts visiting urban areas, this is great. But for those visiting rural or wilderness areas, Google still has a ways to go before more detailed imagery is available.

Images seem to be pretty up-to-date, at least within the areas I checked. For example, my house is located near a new housing development, and I can see houses that were started within the last year on the map.

With Google aiming to expand its reach, I'm sure that we'll see maps with greater detail and higher resolution in the future. That's good news for outdoor enthusiasts.

Things to Note

• Image resolution varies by distance. At the lowest resolution/farthest distance, you can identify large landmarks such as mountains, rivers, and large lakes. At the highest resolution/closest distance, you can locate specific cars, buildings, trees, hills, creeks, and more.
• Satellite images are current within a year or so, but they are not in real-time.

About The Author

Author: Jeremy Henricks

Email: info@henricksoutdoors.com

Web Site: http://www.henricksoutdoors.com/

Details: Jeremy Henricks is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of the Henricks Outdoors network, which includes FishTheOutdoors.com, HuntTheOutdoors.com, and SurviveTheOutdoors.com.

How To Fish A Jig and Pig

Fishing a Jig and Pig

By Ronnie Garrison, About.com Guide

One of the best baits for big bass is a jig and pig. Check the results of most any tournament and many of the top finishers will have used a jig and pig. For a quality bite, they are great.

You can also catch a lot of fish on a jig and pig, but it is a bait that is generally fished slowly, so it is hard to cover a lot of water quickly. Flipping and pitching are the usual methods of fishing them, but they can also be cast or jigged. They are great for largemouth and smallmouth as well as spotted bass.

The jig of a jig and pig is usually a lead head jig with a fairly big hook. It is normally dressed with either a rubber skirt or hair. The pig is a trailer, often of pork rind, hence the name, or plastic. The concoction imitates a crawfish, and plastic trailers are often made to look like a crawfish.

A fairly stiff rod and heavy line is the norm for jig and pig fishing since you are after big fish and are usually fishing heavy cover. I fish mine on a six foot casting rod and use 17 to 20 pound line, usually Stren or Trilene tough lines. The "Mean Green" Trilene works well around cover.

Tie on a jig heavy enough to keep on the bottom. If the wind or current is strong, you will need a bigger jig but go with a light one if you can. I like 1/4 or 3/8 best, but will go to half ounce when necessary. I like a jig that sinks slowly, giving a big bass time to hit it. For that reason I am fishing hair jigs more - the air the hollow hairs in a bucktail jig makes it sink slower than a rubber jig.

Add your favorite trailer. A pork rind frog is always good but they will dry out. Match the pig to the size of your jig - a 101 for a 1/8 ounce jig up to a #1 or #10 size for half ounce jig. The curly tail versions are best when the bass want more action, and they make the jig sink even more slowly.

Plastic trailers like the Zoom Super Chunk or any of the crawfish imitations are also good, and they don't dry out. Twin curly tail trailers like the Yamamoto Ika are also excellent. Rig them so the claws or arms stick out from the jig skirt.

The general rule of thumb is brown in clear water and black in stained water. Many people go with a black/brown combo and others match the jig and trailer. Black/blue is also a good combination. I suspect the color is more important to the fisherman than the bass, so choose the one you like best.

Cast or pitch the jig and let it hit bottom. Let it sit there for a few seconds and imagine the legs on the jig waving and wiggling, enticing any nearby bass to eat it. if you don't a strike, shake the jig with your rod tip and move it with short hops. Think of a crayfish scuttling around on the bottom and then jumping backwards when scared. That jumping motion may make a bass think his dinner is leaving and draw a bite.

Keep working the jig and pig as long as you are in the cover. Brush, rocks and clay bottoms are all good since they are the type places bass look for crawfish. Repeated casts to good, isolated cover is always worthwhile to make a reluctant bass hit. Big bass often do not hit a bait quickly but repeated casts often will irratate them enough to make them bite.

Set the hook at the slightest indication of a bite. Watch your line and set the hook if it moves at all. If you feel weight, don't wait until you feel the bass spit out your jig and pig to set the hook.

Try a jig and pig this fall and winter. It is a good cold water bait. Don't give up on it too quickly - wait on that hawg to bite!

The Fishing Loft Newsletter - Contest Announcement

In This Issue... New Contest Announcement What's New on the Website Promotional Offers Fish Recipe of the Month Quote of the Month New Contest Announcement We were going to wait until March to announce this, but it's been long overdue. The 2011 Fishing Photo Contest is now underway. Here is the direct link to the contest page: http://www.fishingloft.com/fishing-photo-contest-2011.html You, and all of our newsletter subscribers, are the first to hear about the contest. So, get your cameras ready, take the shot of your catch, and enter it(up to 4 pictures per entry, the more the merrier) and your story about it in the contest. What do you win? You'll have to go to the website to get the details. (Check the promotional offers section below for a hint.) By the way, we might decide to increase the prize amounts depending entirely upon how many entries we receive. The more the merrier. Stop by and enter the 2011 Fishing Photo Contest today. What's New on FishingLoft.com We received a few submissions in our fishing pictures sections. If you were one of those people, and want to have your submission entered into the contest, then let us know. Go to our contact page and briefly describe which submission is yours that you want to enter. Be sure to check the contest guidelines first. Thanks. Promotional Offers Since we are awarding gift cards from bass Pro Shops as prizes to the winners of the fishing photo contest, I thought it would be a good idea to quickly inform you to check out their website to see what deals they have going on. Grab a couple Gift Cards or shop around on their site to find exactly what you're looking for. Remember, Valentine's Day is just around the corner... hint, hint. Fish Recipe of the Month Pan Fried Tilapia I cooked up a quick and easy tilapia dish a while back. I took a few pictures of the process and then sent it over to an internet friend of mine for them to post it on their website. You can check out the tilapia dish here at Susan's seafood recipe site. Quote of the Month "The fishing was good; it was the catching that was bad." ~ A.K. Best You are subscribed to The Fishing Loft Newsletter. The back issues are at the following URL... http://www.fishingloft.com/The_Fishing_Loft_Newsletter-backissues.html If you wish to remove yourself from this mailing, please click on the following URL... http://fishingloft.com/cgi-bin/mailout/mailmgr.cgi?us=LQ.21139906.24400837.ad88f0e144fa9df508e991fa071652dc (If the above URL is not a link, copy-and-paste the URL into your Web browser. That will confirm your removal.) To change your e-mail address, please click on the following URL... http://fishingloft.com/cgi-bin/mailout/mailmgr.cgi?ca=LQ.21139906.24400837.ad88f0e144fa9df508e991fa071652dc (If the above URL is not a link, copy-and-paste the URL into your Web browser. That will confirm your change.)

The Fishing Loft Newsletter

In This Issue... Fresh Water ExPress! - In The News What's New on the Website Featured Website Visitor Promotional Offers Fish Recipe of the Month Quote of the Month Fresh Water ExPress! Back in early December, I was contacted by a journalist from the UK by the name of Ed Baker. He was doing some research for an upcoming article he had planned to write about for handfishing for catfish. He came accross my website and read a few things about the sport of catfish noodling and told me how much he liked it. We had a nice little interview on the subject and then he launched his article for his local newspaper. Variations of the article were also released onto the internet by online news websites like the TNT Magazine, Metro, Independant Online, and News Lite, just to mention a few. Here is one of the rehashed articles that was spawned onto the Metro site. And just to quickly point out for those of you who might not know, "Cook" is not my last name. Ed used that as sort of a pen name for me. Never the less, credit was still given by way of showing a link of our website for the quotes. What's New on FishingLoft.com We just launched an entire section dedicated to fishing books and magazines. We've put in a lot of time on the research, and written a review for each book to help it become much easier for you select the ones you like. And we plan to add more reviews to the list. We've all read a fishing book or two, and even some magazines, right? Why not take a couple minutes and share a fishing book review with us. Here are a couple samples that we have received from visitors just like you... Fast Fish Recipe Cookbook Review Bass Fishing In California Book Review ...you can read my responses and give your feedback there too. Have you got your fishing calendars for 2011 yet? This bass fishing calendar is one of my favorites that can be found at Amazon. What's yours? Do you do much travelling to get to and from your favorite fishing spots? Are your fishing rods protected? Check out our reviews for these fishing rod cases. Featured Website Visitor C.B. Pritchard has been a frequent visitor to our website. He has submitted many fishing pictures and has shared quite a few cool stories of his adventures out on the water. You can see some of his stuff like this one titled Barkley Dam, KY Striper Fishing From The Rocks. Would you like to know how you can become a featured visitor too? It's easy. Simply by participating on the website. Maybe other fishermen can learn something from your contributions, regardless of how simple or little it may seem to you, it can make a huge difference to somebody else. Some things you can consider doing is to submit some of your fishing pictures, share a story, write up a quick review, use our questions and answers section to offer tips, or send in a recipe... Promotional Offers Under Armour is offering Free Shipping on orders of $75 or more with this code H7TW75. You can check out their New Arrivals to get started. Or see what they have in the Under Under Armour Fishing section. Offer expires on 2/28 and is good on standard shipping only. Fish Recipe of the Month Green Thai-Curried Salmon You can substitute the salmon with black cod, trout, striped bass, tilapia, catfish, pike or a firm-textered fish of your choice. 4 cloves garlic 2 tablespoons sliced fresh ginger 1 cup packed basil leaves, or mint leaves, or cilantro leaves 1 teaspoon ground coriander 1 teaspoon caraway seeds 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1/2 cup peanut oil 2/3 cup unsweetened coconut milk 2 tablespoons Thai fish sauce 4 (6 ounce) salmon fillets or steaks Asian chile sauce 1 lime cut into wedges Add the garlic and ginger into a food processor and process until minced. Add the basic and mince. Add the coriander, caraway, and cumin and process until incorporated. Slowly add about 3 to 4 tablespoons of oil until a paste forms. Tranfer the paste to a bowl, add the coconut milk and fish sauce, and stir well. Set the sauce aside. Working in batches or using 2 large saute pans, place the pans over medium heat. When the pans are hot, add the remaining 1/4 cup of oil. When the oil is hot, add the fish. Cook for about one minute on each side until lightly browned. Pour in the sauce. Cover the pans and turn the heat down to low. Simmer for 5 minutes, just until the fish begins to flake when prodded with a fork. Transfer the fish to dinner plates. Spoon the sauce over the top. Garnish with a few dashes of the chile sauce and serve with the lime wedges. ********** This fish recipe is not featured on our website. It is intended only for you to enjoy as a thank you for being a subscriber to our newsletter. You can visit our freshwater fish recipes section for more delicious tasting fish dish ideas. And you can also share your fish recipes while you're there. We might even feature it in one of our future issues of The Fishing Loft newsletter. Quote of the Month "Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day." ~ Author Unknown You are subscribed to The Fishing Loft Newsletter. If you wish to remove yourself from this mailing, please click on the following URL... http://fishingloft.com/cgi-bin/mailout/mailmgr.cgi?us=LQ.21139347.24400837.ade5e1c7257ff2915a4c5d80af2afd1c (If the above URL is not a link, copy-and-paste the URL into your Web browser. That will confirm your removal.) To change your e-mail address, please click on the following URL... http://fishingloft.com/cgi-bin/mailout/mailmgr.cgi?ca=LQ.21139347.24400837.ade5e1c7257ff2915a4c5d80af2afd1c (If the above URL is not a link, copy-and-paste the URL into your Web browser. That will confirm your change.)

Boating Tips

By "The Bass Coach"

Roger Lee Brown

rlbrown@capital.net

Watch the Weather

I would like to give you a few tips on boating that I have had to
learn the hard way over the years. Hopefully these tips can make a
difference for you one day and not ruin a good day of bass fishing.

Tip-1

Always have either a spare battery (charged-up) or a heavy
duty set of jumper cables on board. The reason for this is because
I've been in 2, 3, and 4 day tournaments or have been with clients or
students and not running the main gas engine very much (which usually
charges the main battery) while running my livewells and electronics
all day long (which usually run off of your main battery), not
realizing this at the time I go to start my boat up and there isn't
enough juice in the battery to turn my main gas motor over to start.
Believe me! it happens to many anglers..........

Tip-2

Always let someone know where you are going and an
approximate time for your return. Situations in the past that I have
encountered were anglers that didn't know how to handle their boats in
rough water, or they broke down (stranded without communication), or
for what ever the reason didn't make it back to where they launched
out of at their designated time. Try to carry a 2-way radio, cell
phone, flares, and emergency flag in your boat and always expect the
unexpected!

Tip-3

When running up or down the water and you come to these large
25'+ boats that leave these huge wakes behind them and you want to
pass, trim your nose (or bow) downwards and slow down while turning
your boat slightly angled into the wakes. Once you get past the wakes,
"keep on truckin"'! (I mean boating)..... Oh yeah, there is one other
small little thing I need to add to this tip: KNOW YOUR SPEED LIMIT!
Most bodies of water don't have speed limits but the ones that do
watch out for the law because you will get a ticket, and that can
surely ruin your day of fishing. A good angler will always follow and
obey all Federal and State Laws and Regulations... as well as always
being courteous and thoughtful of others.

I hope this article will help not only bass anglers but all boaters!
Each year the bass boats keep getting bigger and faster and I just
hope the drivers use their good judgment and always, always, think
safety as a number one (numeral uno) priority.

If you may have any questions or comments I would love to hear from you.

Until next time, Take Care & God Bless!

"The Bass Coach"...Roger Lee Brown"

How To Catch Trout

By Trevor Kugler

Three Things To Remember When Hooking A Worm For Trout Fishing

If you want to learn how to catch trout it's important to know that

one of the best trout baits that can be used for these beautiful fish

are live worms. By "live worms" I'm referring specifically live worms

such as red worms and night crawlers. And when you use live worms as

bait there are a few things to remember when you are hooking a worm to

use it as fishing bait. In this article I will outline three important

things to remember when you are hooking a worm, specifically for trout

fishing.

It's also important to point out that when worms are used as trout

bait, in most instances they are most effective in river fishing

scenarios. Live worms such as red worms and night crawlers fished in

the flowing water of a river or stream containing trout is an

excellent trout fishing technique and definitely a great way to learn

how to catch trout. As a matter of fact this technique has been my "go

to" trout fishing technique for more than two decades, and has helped

me to catch a ton of trout.

So, if you want to catch trout, keep these three things in mind when

you are hooking a worm. If you are a spin fisherman who likes to catch

trout, this article will be one of the best trout fishing tips that

you ever receive.

* Your Worms Must Be Alive - The worms that you are using must be

    as lively as possible when they are rigged for trout fishing. There is no

    trout bait that is less effective than dead or dying bait. Keep your worms

    in a cool dark place as much as possible so that they stay as "lively"

    as possible. A great way to easily carry your worms on the river when

    you are trout fishing is a bait bag. With a bait bag your worms stay "in the

   dark" and if they start to get hot the bait bag (containing your

   worms) can be dipped in the water to keep the worms cool.

* Small Hooks Should Be Employed - When hooking a worm, most

   anglers tend to use fishing hooks that are entirely too large. They then

   "wrap" their fishing worm around the hook that is entirely too large or they

   hook the worm over and over again creating what I like to call a worm ball.

   Neither of these methods are an effective way to hook a worm for fishing.

   By using something called gang hooks, small hooks such as size 8 and 10

   fishing hooks can be used for hooking a worm. By using gang

   hooks your worm appears much more natural to the trout you are attempting

   to catch and the two ways of hooking a worm mentioned above can be avoided.

   By using small fishing hooks the hooks themselves are all but invisible to the

   trout as well.

* Light Line Should Be Employed - When you are hooking a worm for fishing

   you want the focus of your offering to be the worm and not the line that your

   hook is attached to. For this reason, light line should always be used when you are

   fishing with live worms. When it comes to trout fishing tips this tip is excellent,

   but the tip is just as true anytime that you are hooking a worm for any style of fishing.

   The bottom line is that anytime that you are fishing with worms, hooking that worm

   is of the utmost importance. Keep these simple tips in mind the next time that you are

   hooking a worm and you will experience much more fishing success.

Trevor Kugler is co-founder of JRWfishing.com and an avid angler. He
has more than 25 years experience fishing for all types of fish, and
15 years of business and internet experience. He currently raises his
five year old daughter in the heart of trout fishing country.

Pike Fishing Techniques

By Medha Godbole

Want to get a spike in your pike fishing endeavor? Well, obviously you
just cannot go there and expect to catch how much ever fish you want,
right by just putting the bait! For getting a good catch, you need a
lot of things going in for you. Along with correct fishing, you need
good baits and lures and loads of patience. Pike fishing is nothing
different. Pike, as most of you might be knowing is a brackish and
freshwater fish from the northern hemisphere and it is carnivorous.
Akin to lets say bass fishing or trout fishing, pike fishing or
northern pike fishing too, needs specific pike fishing techniques.
Chances of a good catch increase if special pike fishing tips and
techniques are used.

Northern Pike Fishing Techniques

Fishing techniques for pikes vary according to the season and the area
where they are found, which is mostly near weedy waters. So, there are
different techniques used when fishing for pike in summer and
different techniques used when fishing for pike in fall.
Early Bird Season Techniques
By early bird season, I mean that it is the time when winter has got
over, but the water is still cold from winter. At this time, the pikes
are not as active and aggressive as they are in warm water periods. So
to take things slowly, rather than large crank baits or spoons, using
a 1/8 oz or 1/4 oz jig tipped with a sucker minnow or twister tail
will be a good idea. Moreover, fishing on drop offs close to weed beds
will be perfect. You can also consider setting a large sucker minnow
or two beneath the bobber. Also know about fishing bait tips.

Plugging the Pike
When it comes to pike fishing, all types of plugs are useful. Shallow
plugs, surface plugs, medium to deep divers and shallow running plugs.
Shallow running minnow style plugs for pike are good, but there are
other options too, like larger minnow shaped plugs (which are used for
striper and muskie trolling) are great for catching pike, when it
comes to both casting and trolling applications. You may also like to
read about lake fishing tips.

You Fall or Pike Falls?
Fishing with jugs tipped with minnows reasonably deep is one of the
useful late fall pike fishing techniques. This is because the fish
have slowed down their activity. In addition to this, fishing about 3
feet or less from the bottom will do the trick and you will catch the
bait! When it is just the onset of fall, the pike is at the peak of
its activity. In such a season, as per the pike fishing techniques,
you can use large crank baits, spinners and spinner baits. For casting
the crank bait, slowly drift along the shoreline. Don't forget to cast
as you drift!

Rod with the Pike
Talking of pike fishing tips and techniques, another effective
technique for catching pike is to ensure that the fishing rod has
medium to medium heavy action. In case you are casting or trolling, a
rod that can handle a heavy lure will be required. Also check out if
the overall fishing pole set up is suitable for pike fishing.
Pike Fishing Tips
Pike fishing techniques cannot be replete without some quick,
'alluring' fishing tips and tricks to ensure that the rod doesn't
remain in the water sans any catch. Take a look at some tips.

* The best time to catch pike is either early morning, early
   evening or just prior to a rain storm.
* Just by varying your pike fishing technique and method, you can
   get a nice catch.
* Avoid using the same bait and the same kind of lure.
* If you get a pike on your bait and it goes off or fiddles with
   it, have patience, it will come back. They play with the bait.

Last, but not the least, when you go pike fishing, make sure you are
fishing in the right area and that is where pike is! Otherwise, even
the best pike fishing techniques are going to come to a naught! That
was all about pike fishing tips and techniques! Have I 'lured' you
enough into pike fishing! All the best!

Published: 12/4/2010